Chapter 24: Samsara - The Cycle of Rebirt
All the creatures of the world, whether rabbit or fox bore witness to the downfall of a once formidable overlord. In her prime, she ruled over 70% of the known world, commanding awe and respect from powerful and influential figures of all races.
Yet now, her light flickered like a fragile flame in the wind, on the brink of being extinguished. Bertha, the ant queen, felt a profound connection to the demise of this new generation of heroes. Determination surged within her as she realized that to keep the fire of her own life burning, she must transcend mortal limitations and ascend to the realm of gods. Her compound eyes burned like smoldering coals while fixed upon the Stone Slate of truth.
For ten millennia, she tirelessly pursued answers, delving into countless avenues of research. From scorching infernos and raging floods to the depths of underground magma and the crushing pressures of the abyssal sea, she explored every conceivable method. In her quest to erode the unyielding slab, she beseeched her army to unearth the world's most venomous substances, blending them together and anointing the stone with the blood of the most wicked and poisonous creatures.
Yet, despite these relentless assaults, not a single trace remained upon the indomitable stone. This act alone plunged the ant queen into the depths of despair.
Bertha, with her compound eyes filled with determination, whispered firmly, "Only a deity can challenge another deity!" She extended her dark, four limbs towards the Stone, their movements deliberate and unhurried. With a calculated motion, she consumed the Stone in its entirety, swallowing the slate whole. Gradually, she sank into a dormant state, bracing herself for the imminent shock that would greet her upon awakening.
Unbeknownst to the slumbering Jiang Ping, an impending calamity loomed over him like an unexpected tempest, ready to descend upon his existence. However, instead of resigning herself to her own predetermined fate, the ant queen embarked upon an audacious plan, driven by an unwavering resolve to make a grand announcement that would ripple across the realms.
As time relentlessly flowed on, many years passed and the land thrived and flourished. Legends of the One Piece King continued to echo through bustling streets and urban jungles, igniting the hearts of countless ambitious youths who yearned to conquer the vast expanse of the ocean. The influential and powerful races forged prosperous trade alliances with humanity, enriching their civilizations.
Yet, amidst this era of prosperity, the tales of the god of luck grew increasingly scarce, teetering on the edge of extinction. Most circulating stories were nothing more than whimsical fabrications, woven by idle imaginations. A profound sense of loss permeated the hearts of countless individuals, as they mourned the apparent passing of the deity, jesting that the god of providence had perhaps succumbed to an enduring slumber.
However, unbeknownst to the disillusioned masses, destiny's wheel turned silently, weaving intricate threads that would soon unravel a profound secret, breathing new life into the waning whispers of the god of providence.
Many sneered, exclaiming, "How can a god slumber? Do you truly believe they are akin to us?" Their voices resonated with contempt.
For the divine beings, their abode resided within a grand palace of resplendent gold, where they indulged in endless nectar and were attended to by a retinue of exquisite beauties. Their days were spent observing the ebb and flow of the world.
But on that fateful day, a continent concealed deep within the ocean trembled, quaking under the weight of an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the land. A resounding roar, brimming with dominance, echoed from the depths of the land, startling birds and beasts, causing rocks to cascade down mountainsides.
Extraordinary creatures lurking in every corner of the continent fled, a torrent of beasts converging upon the ocean as if escaping from a monstrous horror born upon the land.
"An earthquake?" gasped the denizens of the human kingdom, their bewildered gazes fixed on the trembling landmass.
On the largest and most formidable continent, the confluence of the central lands, the countenance of the mightiest royal saint twisted in an unprecedented display of alarm. His solemn eyes shifted towards the depths of the distant land.
"Such power cannot possibly exist in our world. The ancient kings pale in comparison!" His visage grew grave as he dispatched missives to summon the mightiest beings on the mainland.
"Have the gods descended upon us? The malevolence of their aura suggests their awakening!" The ants, ceaselessly toiling in their voracious march, abruptly halted their labor. Even the simple-minded worker ants recognized the emergence of an incomprehensible being within their midst.
"Has the monarch arrived?" trembled an ant queen, her voice quivering in trepidation.
Two beams of crimson light pierced the heavens, cleaving through vast expanses of land and illuminating the world. High-altitude clouds dispersed before these fiery rays, causing a ripple that resonated across the primordial realm.
Astounding, surpassing mortal comprehension, it could not conceivably become more awe-inspiring than this!
At the earth's core, ten thousand meters deep, a humanoid creature, standing a mere two meters tall, surveyed its surroundings. Clad in ebony armor, its body bore a complex network of countless enigmatic transient symbols, constantly shifting and flickering from location to location on its body.
Even the most erudite scholars of esteemed institutions could scarcely decipher one or two of these symbols, remnants of the ancient human race's knowledge. Some even held the secrets of revered techniques passed down by the Emperor themselves.
Contained within were the talents of formidable creatures, such as colossal dragons and behemoths, etched upon the shell of this nascent entity, embodying the essence of all races.
The strange creature fixed his gaze upon his mother, embodying the quintessence of a natural-born monarch—the most majestic being ever to grace this realm—with an unyielding, impassive stare.
The meticulously dissected abdomen of Queen Ant Bertha unveiled the masterpiece she had just fashioned.
Bertha regarded her son with a mingling of weariness and relief, offering a faint smile tinged with fatigue.
"Child of mine, you transcend even the loftiest of my expectations. You have amalgamated the talents inherent in all races and merged with the most sacred treasures bestowed by the divine. You are Ant King Beiou, fated to lead me in our conquest of the world, consuming all that lies in our path! Accomplish the grand endeavor that eluded me!"
The resounding magnitude of the Queen Ant's words sent ripples through the fabric of the void, and illusory lightning crackled into existence, seemingly poised to exact divine retribution upon this insolent creature.
Undeterred by the thunderous spectacle, the Ant King cast a frigid glance, flattening the very fabric of the void with his mere gesture, eradicating the thunderous visions and silencing the clamor of godly beings and demons alike.
Before Queen Ant could recover from the astonishment brought about by the Ant King's otherworldly power, a searing pain coursed through her lower body. Bertha glanced downwards, only to realize that her body had been severed, and in his hand, the Ant King held her decapitated head aloft.
"Why? Why?" Bertha's voice trembled as she gazed at her newly born progeny, black blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.
The Ant King regarded his mother with eyes void of emotion. "There is no need for two monarchs to command the colony."
Bertha's head descended to the ground, enshrouded in a cloud of dust upon impact. At that moment, she comprehended the reason behind his actions.
The offspring borne of her own being had been imprinted at the core of his genetic makeup, meticulously designed to obey her every command—devoid of any inclination to harm her.
The Ant King, however, personified the ultimate pinnacle of ant consumption, encapsulating the essence of ruthless annihilation in its purest manifestation.
He surpassed the limitations of such a rule.
In that instant, Queen Ant Bertha found solace. She silently observed her son, her scarlet eyes betraying no hint of surprise, as if nothing in the world could stir his impassive countenance.
Two generations of kings, the two generations of protagonists, locked eyes in a silent contemplation. The aged Empress embraced death, while the newborn king radiated boundless vitality, possessing unparalleled combat prowess.
A cyclical gaze.
Bertha suddenly recollected her own infancy, teeming with ambition, lurking and biding her time in the depths of the earth, patiently awaiting her ascent to dominion.
The present Ant King bore a remarkable resemblance to her former self.
"I once was you, and someday, you shall be me."
Bertha sighed, her voice filled with resignation. "Beware of another divine-bestowed treasure, the Spear of Destiny. It stands as the sole weapon in existence capable of jeopardizing your reign. Seek it out, consume it, and raise the spear of rebellion against the heavens!"
A flicker of surprise momentarily illuminated the Ant King's eyes before swiftly dissipating. He had not anticipated that the Queen Ant would unveil her final secret prior to meeting her demise.
Boom!
With a stride, Ant King Beiou crushed the queen ant's head, sending fragments
and blood scattering in all directions. In his eyes, the body of the queen ant, honed over countless eons, was as frail as tofu.
"... You may yet create another like me."
After a protracted silence, a voice reverberated within the shadowy metropolis.
On earth in the real world, Jiang Ping slumbered peacefully until suddenly, a radiant burst of white light emanated from the space between his brows. Genesis surged forth, its pages rustling and turning without the slightest hint of a breeze. On the second page, the text materialized automatically.
In the annals of history, at the dawn of a new era, Ant Queen Bertha devoured the Tablet of Truth, nurturing it for a century, expending her lifetime of wisdom, and giving birth to the quintessence of all races.
Beyond the confines of the familiar world, Ant King Beiou, the most malevolent, wicked, and potent entity, materialized, shaking the very foundations of reality, instilling terror in both divine beings and specters. He also became the slayer of his own mother, the Queen Ant.